Consensus-Based Recommendations for Yoga as Adjunct Therapy in Eating Disorder Treatment: A Delphi Study.
The International journal of eating disorders June 1, 2025 Eleanor Trethewey, Subhadra Evans, Shane Mciver et al. 1 citation
Experts in eating disorders and yoga instructors agreed on key considerations for safely and therapeutically applying yoga to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Using a two-round modified Delphi technique, 12 clinicians and 16 yoga instructors (with 10 and 13 completing the second round) rated the importance of yoga components such as style, frequency, duration, environment, safety precautions, language, instructor qualifications, postures, breathwork, and meditation. General recommendations were organized into six core areas: yoga style, environmental factors, dosage, language and expression, the instructor's role, and integration into treatment. Technique-specific recommendations addressed postures, breathwork, and meditation across the eating disorder spectrum. The findings emphasize trauma-informed, individualized approaches and highlight the need for further research to develop comprehensive guidelines.